DALLAS  For better or worse, the Padres didn’t want to be committed to Heath Bell when he was 37 or 38.

Aside from Bell accepting arbitration — the possibility of which delayed the Padres offseason planning — the club was never interested in signing him for more than two years with an option on a third season.

Which is why Huston Street will be the Padres closer in 2012 rather than Bell.

Five days after free agent Bell signed what could be a four-year, $36 million deal with the Miami Marlins, the Padres on Wednesday acquired right-handed closer Street and $1 million from the Colorado Rockies for a minor league player to be named later.

Street, 28, is scheduled to make $7.5 million in 2012 with a $500,000 buyout against a $9 million contract in 2013. The Rockies are sending the Padres $500,000 as an offset on Street’s 2012 contract plus funding the possible buyout after this season.

Bell made $7.5 million in 2011.

Put together, the two deals save the Padres at least $2 million this season and don’t lock the club into the long-term contract Bell sought.

“We’re very happy the way it ended up,” said General Manager Josh Byrnes of the Street-for-Bell shift.

For the sake of argument, look at it as if it were a trade in 2012 — the Padres receiving Street and two high draft picks (the compensation picks for Bell) for Bell and a minor league player who is not projected to be an upper-echelon player.

Bell, 34, had 40 or more saves in each of the last three seasons for the Padres without ever missing an assignment over five seasons with the Padres due to injury. “Heath was very durable,” said Byrnes.

But the fastballer’s strikeout-to-innings ratio dropped last season and the Padres were concerned where he would be two or three years from now.

Street didn’t reach 30 saves in any of his past three seasons with the Rockies and has had several health issues over the past two seasons. Last season, Street was 1-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 29 saves in 62 games. He struck out 55 in 58 1/3 innings, but also gave up 10 homers.

But Street should benefit from the change of scenery.

Street had a 5.59 ERA in 32 games at Coors Field last season and has a 4.11 career ERA in Denver. Over the last four seasons with the Rockies, Street had an overall 3.50 ERA and 84 saves.

In 11 appearances at Petco Park, Street never allowed the Padres a run while making eight saves and striking out 17 in 11 1/3 innings.

“He’s going from one ballpark extreme to the other,” Byrnes said of Street, who had a 2.88 ERA and 94 saves in four seasons with the Oakland A’s before going to the Rockies.

“Everyone loves pitching at sea level compared to 5,000 feet,” Street said Wednesday night. “It won’t be tough at all (to move from Coors Field to Petco Park). For me, one of the toughest things about pitching in Denver was how I felt the morning after games. I always felt a little sorer, a bit more sore.

“I’ve always had the feeling that I had good stuff when I pitched at Petco Park. I’ve always had good success there. Plus, we’re going to have a good defense behind me and that’s a huge benefit.”

Said Byrnes: “Huston doesn’t beat himself. He’s not a velocity guy, but has a great slider and change-up. He’s a strike thrower who is hard to run on.”

Byrnes said the Padres had been working on acquiring Street for a month, but had to wait on any deal until Bell determined what he was going to do. Acquiring Street ahead of Bell’s decision could have left the Padres with two expensive closers had Bell accepted arbitration.

The son of famed Texas quarterback James Street, the 6-foot, 190-pound Huston Street was the 40th overall pick of the Oakland A’s out of the University of Texas in 2004. A season later, he was the American League Rookie of the Year.

Padres notes

•The Padres now have four players under contract for 2012, Street, shortstop Jason Bartlett ($5.5 million with a $1.5 million buyout against a $5.5 option for 2013), second baseman Orlando Hudson ($5.25 million with a $2 million buyout against a $8 million option for 2013) and outfielder-first baseman Mark Kotsay ($1.25 million).

•The Padres had talked to the Rockies about swapping Hudson for Street. Although the Rockies are interested in acquiring a second baseman, they balked at reacquiring Hudson.

•To create an opening for Street on the 40-man roster, the Padres released outfielder Jeremy Hermida.